Meet the Team

Founder and Director of Operations for Bozeman, Montana-based Yellow Dog Flyfishing Adventures (www.yellowdogflyfishing.com), Jim began working in the fly fishing industry at the age of 14. Over the years, he has worked as a guide, sales rep, travel coordinator, and as past National Sales Manager for Scientific Anglers. He’s guided extensively in Montana, Colorado, New Mexico, and Oregon, and has fished throughout the world in over 50 different countries.

In 1999, Jim founded Yellow Dog, a fly fishing booking and travel company that has grown to become one of the largest and most recognized entities in sporting travel. As Yellow Dog’s Director, Jim spends a lot of time scouting and researching destinations throughout the world. Aside from his ongoing work with Yellow Dog, Jim is also the co-founder of Confluence Films, a film production company that created the fishing movies DRIFT (2008), RISE (2009), CONNECT (2011), WAYPOINTS (2013) and PROVIDENCE (2016).

In 2017, Jim was awarded the American Museum of Fly Fishing’s “Izaak Walton Award,” given out once a year to honor and celebrate individuals who live by the Compleat Angler philosophy. The award recognizes “a passion for the sport of fly fishing and involvement in the angling community that provides inspiration for others and promotes the legacy of leadership for future generations.” In 2018, Jim was the recipient of the annual “Lefty Kreh Industry Leadership Award,” presented to one individual each year by the American Fly Fishing Trade Association (AFFTA).

Jim’s writings and photos and appeared in numerous magazines and publications, and his photo work and galleries can be viewed at www.klugphotos.com. Fly Fishing Belize (released in October 2014) is Jim’s first full-length book project. Jim lives in Bozeman, Montana with his wife Hilary and children Carson, Finn, and Gus.

WEB LINKS:

Klug Photos – www.klugphotos.com

Confluence Films – www.confluencefilms.com

Yellow Dog Flyfishing Adventures – www.yellowdogflyfishing.com

Yellow Dog co-owner Ian Davis has been involved in the fly fishing industry since the early 1990s. Having grown up in the Catskill Mountains, Ian later went on to attend the Art Institute of Chicago where he studied landscape painting. In the early 90s, he moved to Colorado, where he spent 12 years as the owner of Breckenridge Outfitters, a three-time “Orvis Endorsed Outfitter of the Year” fly shop. After leaving Colorado in 2003, Ian joined the Yellow Dog team as co-owner and saltwater program director. He has fished extensively throughout the world in both fresh and saltwater. Ian is an accomplished photographer and handles all of the art and illustrations for Yellow Dog’s catalogs and other literature.

Tom is Yellow Dog’s Director of Sales and lead program director for Alaska, Kamchatka and Iceland. Originally from the Midwest, Tom is a graduate of the University of Montana and as fanatical an angler as anyone we’ve ever met. When not in the office, Tom can be found fishing one of the many backcountry streams Montana has to offer or sitting at the vise tying up some new creations. Over his years with Yellow Dog, Tom has traveled extensively throughout both fresh and saltwater destinations around the globe. If you attend any of the consumer shows where Yellow Dog is participating, chances are great that you’ll meet Tom in the Yellow Dog booth!

John Hudgens is Yellow Dog’s program director for our jungle program, managing our operations, programs and lodge operations in Bolivia, Brazil and Venezuela. John has fished extensively throughout South America, and spent several years guiding and managing lodges in Patagonia. John literally grew up in the fly fishing industry, first working for Bob Jacklin in West Yellowstone, Montana before moving on to become one of the top guides for Mike Lawson’s Henry’s Fork Anglers in Idaho. During the peak summer months John still guides in Idaho and Montana before settling back into the Yellow Dog office life each fall season. John is an incredible angler, a fanatical bird hunter and dog trainer, and one of the most genuine and straightforward people that we’ve ever met in this industry.

Shaun Lawson is Yellow Dog’s program manager and director for our Yucatán, Baja and Canadian programs. Shaun grew up on the Henry’s Fork River – literally. His father Mike opened Henry’s Fork Anglers in 1976 and Shaun spent every summer on the river from the age of three on. Shaun brings a ton of industry experience to the position, having guided throughout Montana and Idaho for more than 20 years. Shaun also worked as past fishing operations manager for Idaho’s South Fork Lodge, one of the top lodge and outfitting operations in the business. There are very few people in the entire fly fishing industry as knowledgeable and experienced as Shaun and we are super excited to have him as a part of the Yellow Dog team! His friendly demeanor is often overshadowed by his sheer stature, and you will be hard-pressed to find a more inspired and outgoing angler on any river.

Doug works as Yellow Dog’s program manager for the Bahamas and Honduras. A serious saltwater addict, Doug has fished extensively throughout the Bahamas, Belize, Honduras, Cuba, the Florida Keys and the Yucatán. Growing up in Pennsylvania, Doug McKnight was captivated and obsessed with fishing at a very early age. Hunting and fishing in the McKnight household were always family traditions, and his father Ron and grandfather Stanley always made the time to take him and encourage him to follow his outdoor pursuits. Doug began tying flies at age 9 under his father’s instruction, and soon was tying flies professionally for several local fly shops. For nearly two decades, Doug McKnight has built a reputation as an expert fly tyer in nearly every facet of the craft. From trout flies, bass, saltwater, big game flies, deer hair flies, realistic flies and Atlantic Salmon flies, Doug is an incredibly versatile fly tyer and his creativity shines through in his many published and trademarked patterns. In 2003, Umpqua Feather Merchants signed him up as a signature fly tyer. Today Doug McKnight resides in Livingston, Montana where he lives with his wife Shayla, his two children, and his faithful and crazy bird dog Hawk.

Grey is the Program Director for Belize at Yellow Dog. Originally from North Carolina, Grey grew up fishing and exploring the coastal and mountain regions of the state; at home in both the salt and freshwater. A graduate of Sewanee: The University of the South, he always found time to get out and the waters of the southeast. While in college, Grey interned with Yellow Dog and developed a deep appreciation for Montana and its extensive fisheries. Grey has guided the Bristol Bay region of Alaska, the backcountry of Mongolia and fished internationally throughout the Caribbean and Central America. When not in the office, Grey strives to be on the water or in the mountains surrounding Bozeman on skis or mountain bike. As a member of the Yellow Dog team, Grey seeks to encourage others to see the world through fly fishing.

Kyle Kolodziejski is Yellow Dog’s Program Director for Argentina and Chile. His personal and professional paths in life have always been focused on the outdoors – specifically lodge management, guiding, outdoor education, and fly fishing and adventure travel. He has over a dozen years of experience guiding, managing lodges and owning an outfitting business in Alaska, and nearly 25 years of direct travel experience throughout South America. He spent several years at a fly fishing travel company where he built and managed a successful South American travel program, and has visited and fished in just about every corner of Patagonia and beyond. Kyle has developed a solid reputation for helping clients select destinations that best fit their travel and fishing needs, and cultivated relationships with a wide network of lodges, guides, and outfitters across Argentina and Chile. That said, you’ll be hard-pressed to find someone as knowledgeable or passionate about assisting clients in planning and preparing for the best overall fly fishing trip experience. If you are considering a trip to Argentina or Chile Kyle should be your first resource to contact.

Jake is Yellow Dog’s program director for our U.S. West and Louisiana programs. Originally from Virginia, Jake moved to Idaho in 2005 and started his career in the fly fishing industry at Henry’s Fork Anglers, one of the most well-known destination fly shops in the Western United States. After leaving Idaho at the beginning of 2013, he relocated to Salt Lake City and worked for a top fly fishing e-commerce retailer, and then as a sales representative for some of the top brands in the industry. Jake is an unbelievable source of knowledge on all things having to do with fly fishing, and he now looks forward to travelling the globe pursuing his passion and helping others to do the same.

A Montana native who grew up in the town of Hardin in the Big Horn region, Camille focuses mainly on Yellow Dog’s Alaska, Kamchatka and Christmas Island programs. Seeing the world is her passion, and being able to share it with others is her life’s calling. She was raised splitting time between Montana and Alaska, where she’s spent every summer since she was a little girl at her family’s fishing lodge on the Nushagak River in Bristol Bay. She began guiding at a young age, enveloping herself in fly fishing and the great outdoors. She always knew that her passion would become her life’s work, but it has also taken her places she never dreamt of going, let alone fishing! Whether she’s hosting groups of anglers to Christmas Island, Kamchatka and Alaska, fishing her way through Argentina, Brazil and the Seychelles, competing in the GoPro Games and other events, or exploring the waters of the Greater Yellowstone area, Camille is truly one of the best in the business.

Kristen Tripp is Yellow Dog’s Program Director for Cuba and Yellow Dog’s Bluewater Program. A love of travel, culture, the outdoors and angling were cultivated from growing up in Nepal with summers in the Grand Tetons of Wyoming. With travel in her blood, Kristen has lived and traveled all over Latin and South America (including Chile, Argentina, Peru, Honduras, Guatemala, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Cuba) along with a long list of countries in other continents as well. Despite her global travel experience, she still maintains a healthy bucket list for future exploration. Kristen’s international travel experience combined with her Spanish language skills and an aptitude for complex trip logistics give her the skills necessary to provide travelers to Cuba with a fantastic experience. An angler, paddler, biker, hiker and general outdoor enthusiast, Kristen loves to get outside when possible to explore, and always loves the opportunity to put her Spanish to use. A “logistics addict” with a get-it-done attitude, you can bet that Kristen will work hard to take care of your trip details. If she ever lacks for an immediate answer to your questions, she will work hard to track down the information for you and can troubleshoot in two languages, a must for Cuba trips!

Simon is Yellow Dog’s Australia and Cook Islands Program Director and assists with the New Zealand program. Originally from New Zealand, Simon has been involved with the fly fishing community for a number of years, but now resides in Bozeman, Montana with his family. He has published in Flylife magazine (AUS/NZ) and is an ambassador for Manic Tackle project New Zealand. Simon has fished in multiple locations around the world but still has a special place in his heart for his home territories. In his off time his passion for the outdoors and fly fishing takes him into the wilds of Montana where he loves to throw big dries to rising fish.

Bessie is Yellow Dog’s program director for New Zealand. An angler since she was learning how to walk, Bessie grew up on a ranch outside of Saratoga, Wyoming, where she spent numerous summers working in the hayfields and fishing on the upper North Platte River. After studying Art History and Landscape Architecture at the University of Virginia, Bessie returned to Wyoming to guide in the Saratoga area. Years later, a fateful backpacking trip to the land down under compelled Bessie to pack up and move to Queenstown, New Zealand, where she lived and worked for well over two years. Naturally, she was beguiled by New Zealand’s incredible fishing opportunities and spent years fishing, visiting and exploring lodges and outfitting operations all throughout the country. In addition to her time spent living and working in New Zealand, Bessie has traveled and fished extensively throughout the U.S., Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, Cuba, the Bahamas, Seychelles, Canada and the Cook Islands.

Ann Swann is the Office Manager at Yellow Dog Flyfishing Adventures and Finance Manager for Yellow Dog Community and Conservation Foundation (YDCCF). She ensures the smooth operations of the businesses with her unique combination of education, business and non-profit experience and her specific interest in organizations whose work is invested in relationship building, innovation and improving quality of life. Ann has worked in both for-profit and nonprofit roles creating and managing events, overseeing database administration, on lead generation, resource development, project management, volunteer cultivation and business partnerships. In addition, she spent many years as a parent educator and elementary classroom teacher working with children and families. Ann is a graduate of the University of North Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education.

Alyssa is a financial coordinator for Yellow Dog who moved to Montana in 2010 for the fresh mountain air and endless supply of outdoor activities. Alyssa graduated from Georgia Southern University and has lived all over the country but is proud to call Montana home. While not in the office you will find Alyssa spending time in her garden, hiking, biking, fishing, cooking, traveling or doing anything outdoors with her husband Drew, their 3 boys, and their dogs and chickens.

Carter handles the inbound and digital marketing for Yellow Dog. He has a passion for all things marketing, from analytics to search engine optimization. Before joining the Yellow Dog team, he worked for The Fish Hawk in Atlanta, Georgia and for TroutHunter Lodge on the Henry’s Fork of the Snake River. Originally from Atlanta, Carter spent much of his time fly fishing the Chattahoochee River, the Blue Ridge Mountains and throughout North Carolina and Tennessee. Carter has also fished internationally in the Bahamas, Cuba, Mexico, Canada and Belize. When he’s not in the office, you can find him searching for rising trout on the various streams throughout Montana, Idaho and Wyoming.

Growing up in the Gallatin Valley, Patrick’s passion for Montana and its special places are in his DNA. After college he returned home to Montana to fulfill his dream of being a writer, a fishing guide, and soccer coach—and has enjoyed success in all three. He has authored six books, including Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Fly Fishing and Montana On the Fly: An Angler’s Guide and his work has appeared in The Drake, Big Sky Journal, Mountain Outlaw, Montana Outdoors, and others. He founded Montana Fishing Outfitters in 2000 and in 2018 handed it off to his business partner. From 2012 through early 2019, with the help from his great staff, he resurrected Gallatin River Guides in Big Sky, which he sold in early 2019. Pat is also a member of the Winston Rods and ClackaCraft Drift Boats pro staff. He’s fished in southern Africa, the Seychelles, Patagonia, the Caribbean, and throughout the United States. He is thrilled to be part of Yellow Dog. He is also ready to take on his next soccer challenge of coaching his two young daughters, but he and his wife, Brandy, would only ever consider missing a daughter’s soccer match to chase permit on the flats.

A lifelong pisciphile, Bryan grew up fishing Cottonwood Creek and spent the bulk of his twenties on water, surfing Hawaii and working as a commercial fisherman in the Pacific and northern Atlantic. After mastering photography in the winter action sports industry, Bryan turned his lens to capturing fly fishing around the globe. He is the humble recipient of numerous awards and large-scale assignments, with work ranging from major magazine covers to billboards to groundbreaking cinematography shorts. Bryan has worked with Patagonia, Volvo Cars, Scott Fly Rods, Hatch Outdoors, TroutHunter Lodge, Casa Blanca and Playa Blanca Resorts, Rainy’s Flies, William Joseph, Trout Unlimited, Scientific Anglers, The Drake, FlyFish Journal, NW/SW Fly Fishing, and dozens of other brands, conservation groups and publications

Dillon is the Associate Director for Yellow Dog Community and Conservation Foundation. Raised in the little town of Gardiner, Montana at the North entrance to Yellowstone National Park, fly fishing has always been a part of his identity. He grew up fishing the Firehole and Yellowstone rivers under the mentorship of both his father and mother. After graduating college with a degree in Economics, he worked in financial sales for two years before his love for fly fishing eventually led him to Patagonia, Argentina where he worked in a fishing lodge. But, eventually, the pull of Montana brought him home. Dillon is an avid elk hunter and is just as at home in the mountains as on the river. His passion for storytelling is seen through his writing, and he hopes to instill in people the same sense of adventure and excitement that he receives through fly fishing.

Brenda joined the Yellow Dog Team the summer 2014. Brenda works as a Program Director Assistant and Itinerary Specialist for Belize, the Seychelles and many of Yellow Dog’s most exotic and off-the-grid offerings. Brenda also prides herself in being knowledgeable in all of the Yellow Dog programs in order to be of assistance to as many of our clients as possible. You can always count on Brenda to be upbeat, show care and attention for the details, and provide a friendly voice on the other end of the line with a happy, can-do attitude. When not in the office, Brenda loves being in the outdoors and on the water. She enjoys fishing with her husband Joe and hiking with her border collie Charlie.

Jen is the itinerary pro and logistical support for the Mexico and Canada programs. Book a trip to either of these destinations and chances are you’ll be chatting with her at some point! Raised in Montana, in the small community of Big Timber, she grew up fishing the Yellowstone and Boulder rivers with her dad and brothers. She is a Montana State University alum who returned to Bozeman after taking some time to travel and explore outside of the state and country. When not at work, Jen can be found spending time with her family and being outside as much as possible!

Kalen (pronounced Kay-lin) works as a Program Director Assistant and Itinerary Specialist for Cuba and South America. A Midwesterner at heart, Kalen was raised lake-fishing on the plentiful waters of Minnesota and Wisconsin. She has lived all over the country, travelled across Spain on foot, and toured all of Montana with Shakespeare in the Parks and Schools. Outside of the office, she can be found teaching yoga, hiking, camping, singing, cooking, and enjoying her family.

Allison is a program assistant at Yellow Dog who recently moved to Bozeman. Although she grew up in the Midwest, her parents were raised in Montana and instilled a love for the outdoors in her at an early age. She learned to fly fish from her dad, an avid hunter and angler. After college, she moved to Colorado and pursued her love for fly fishing by working at a local fly shop in Boulder, CO. Spending her summers in Montana, she knew the move was inevitable and she finally took the leap and moved North. When not in the Yellow Dog office, she can be found on the water, mountain biking, hiking or anything that allows her to be outside.

Jade is a program assistant for Yellow Dog. Born and raised in Great Falls, Montana. She moved to Bozeman in 2010. When not in the office, Jade loves being in the outdoors and on the water. She enjoys cooking, traveling or anything outdoors with her family and their dog.

With over forty years of experience fly fishing the world, Jeff has quite possibly fished more countries and caught more species on a fly rod than any person alive. He’s an active lecturer, published author, a well-known artist, and the subject of numerous films, articles and media projects. Jeff is constantly traveling and developing new techniques for catching the most exotic fish imaginable in places where even the most avid adventurers are hesitant to go. An IGFA World Record holder, Jeff has fished in over 55 countries and caught over 375 species of fish on a fly. The oldest member of the Yellow Dog Ambassador team, Jeff can now die happy having watched the Cubs finally win a World Series.

Raised in South Africa, Jako Lucas began fishing South Africa’s fresh and saltwater destinations at the age of four. He represented his country in various competitions throughout his youth before starting his career as a full-time guide in 2006. Along the way he expanded his horizons to include photography and film work, establishing his own action film production company, Captain Jack Films. Jako’s guide resume includes years of working in Mongolia, Norway, and all throughout the Indian Ocean; including time spent on Astove, Cosmoledo, Farquhar, Providence, and Alphonse. He’s fished all across the globe and has won numerous awards for his film work. Jako is currently a consultant for Thomas and Thomas Rods.

Oliver has been the subject of numerous films, TV pieces and magazine articles, including multi-page spreads in Forbes, Men’s Journal and Cat Aficionado. In addition to overseeing the operations as a founding partner of Abaco Lodge on Abaco and Bair’s Lodge on South Andros in the Bahamas, he regularly hosts and arranges fishing trips all over the world. Along with a small group of friends and the backing of Costa Del Mar, Oliver founded the non-profit ‘Indifly’ and their flagship Rewa Lodge and arapaima project in Guyana. Currently Oliver is working on his first book with Stonefly Press, cranking out regular articles for Fly Fisherman Magazine, and still finding time to live the dream.

Permit and steelhead addict Wil Flack has been living, guiding and working in Belize for the past 15 years. Wil owns Tres Pescados Fly Shop on Ambergris Caye, and recently opened the Belize Permit Club further to the south in Hopkins. Wil has fished all over the world, including Tahiti and French Polynesia, Costa Rica, Honduras, Mexico, Fiji, Venezuela, the Bahamas, Australia, Hawaii, Japan and throughout the US West and Canada. He was featured in the 2013 Confluence Films project, Waypoints, searching for jungle payara and eating barbequed jungle rat with his friend Oliver White. When you finish up a day of fishing with Wil, he’ll gladly take a gin and tonic – with two olives.

Paula is a guide and outfitter in Alberta, Canada, where she spends her season working on the renowned Bow River and surrounding fisheries. She has developed a reputation as one of the hardest-working guides in the region, and she is well-respected by clients and competitors alike. Paula is a focused and driven professional, and from an early age she has excelled in the world of outdoor sports. Early on, she was playing hockey, ringette and lacrosse, and competing at the professional level for Team Canada working hard in hopes of making the Olympic team. In those same early years, Paula developed a deep love for water – both frozen and flowing – and could be found on the river at any opportunity. Through her years of competing in winter sports, Paula learned the value of a focused work ethic and experienced first-hand the drive and determination it takes to accomplish her goals. Paula has transitioned what she’s learned to the outfitting world, trading her skeleton sled for a drift boat and applying her skills to a full-time pursuit of fish.